Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei received Mr. Joko Widodo Wednesday evening. He is visiting Tehran and met also with President Rouhani earlier on Wednesday. Leader believed that Iran and Indonesia as two important Muslim countries had ample opportunities to work in line with mutual interests and the current trade balance was short of the level that should be; “there is a firm belief in Iran’s foreign policy that all Islamic countries should not respond to enemies’ hidden plans to create superficial differences among the Islamic Ummah; rather, they should bolster the whole Islamic world through shunning the enemies’ plots,” he told the meeting, where President Rouhani also accompanied Mr. Widodo.

“Iran sees Indonesia a pivot of the Islamic world with huge Muslim population, and by that nature, a good ally to itself, in terms of economic attractions both countries offer the other side,” Ayatollah Khamenei added.

On Middle East crises, Leader asserted that all such crises were unnecessary and imposed upon the region by foreign forces which sought vested interests; “Indonesia’s late leader Megawati Setiawati Sukarnoputri played a crucial role in establishment of the Non-Aligned Movement and today, country’s position on Palestinian issue deserve acclaim by all Islamic countries,” he told the meeting.

Mr. Widodo for his part voiced the popularity and the attraction the Islamic Republic of Iran provides for Indonesians; “the visit to Tehran seeks to improve economic ties especially in energy sector; negotiations with Iranian officials had been constructive, by which Iranian power plant companies would participate in Indonesia’s energy and power sector projects,” he said.

“We believe achieving a trade balance of $20bn is an attainable target, toward which both countries will be in the right track through cooperation in other sectors as tourism and university and academic exchanges.”

“Indonesia is committed to Palestinian support and will continue its policy as it did before; Islamic unity would provide grounds for tackling the current crises in the region,” Widodo concluded his brief speech.